Historic Compromise Reached

Homeowner Settles For Screened Porch

WILLIAMSBURG — William Morecock became the first homeowner to challenge the city's new power to protect historic homes, but he still didn't get the sunporch he wanted.

Hearing his case on appeal, the Williamsburg Architectural Review Board Thursday allowed Morecock to widen his front porch at 401 Capitol Landing Road but insisted it be a screened porch instead of a glassed-in one.

"I want the space first. The idea of having it glassed in was secondary," Morecock told the board, adding later, "The main thing was being able to sit out and use it more of the year with the glass."

Last year the city gave the review board greater authority to control changes to 254 historic homes.

The board was criticized for not telling many of those homeowners their houses were marked for preservation, and Morecock said he didn't know his 1895 house was picked until he asked to build the porch in January.

Morecock said his grandmother bought the house when it stood on Francis Street in 1932 and moved it some time after that. Morecock grew up in the house and recently inherited it.

"I believe that, within reason, someone ought to be able to do what they want with their own property," he said before Thursday's meeting.

Board member William Geary told Morecock, "The reason for this conversation has to do with architectural preservation. If this house were in James City County, there would be no question about putting on any type of porch with any kind of material."

In February the review board rejected his plans because, among other things, Morecock wanted to change the gable roof over the porch to a hip roof.

Morecock questioned the board's knowledge of local architecture by saying members did not know the house had been moved until he told them.

"Basically, it was just their opinion about what I should or shouldn't do to my house," Morecock said before Thursday's meeting.

Morecock appealed to the Williamsburg City Council, and the council returned his case to the review board last week after Morecock found a photo of the house on Francis Street sporting a porch and roof similar to what he would build.

The review board liked the photo and told Morecock to follow it as closely as possible - including having screens instead of glass.

But he said he hated being the example of how to appeal such a decision.